Timed motorized flue cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An assembly including structure for applying cleaning liquid and then flushing liquid to the internal surfaces of at least one upstanding section of a flue line and for collecting and ducting away the liquids flowing downwardly the internal surfaces of the upstanding section by gravity.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1890Taylor..1......................,

[72] Inventors StuartC.Wyant 809 Clay St.;

Robert R. Fredinburg. 438 Euclid. both of Ashland, Oreg. 97520 782,645

[21] Appl. No. [22] Filed Dec. 10, 1968 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 [54]TIMED MOTORIZED FLUE CLEANING APPARATUS 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

Attorneys-Clarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson 239/120, I

239/550 ABSTRACT: An assembly including structure for applying B05b 1/28cleaning liquid and then flushing liquid to the internal surfaces soFieldofSearch.....

of at least one upstanding section ofa flue line and for collect- 208,120, 121, 550, 225; 55/227; 134/95,99, 171;

ing and ducting away the liquids flowing downwardly the internalsurfaces of the upstanding section by gravity.

TIMED MOTORIZED FLUE CLEANIING APPARATUS The flue cleaning apparatus ofthe instant invention is designed to clean flues in restaurants andother commercial establishments where grease is a problem and may be afire hazard in and to exhaust systems.

The system is designed to be fully automatic, with automatic timingswitches and devices and may be adjusted by the individual operator sothat the system goes into operation when cooking or other normaloperations cease.

In order to initiate operation of the flue cleaning apparatus, theassociated exhaust system is closed, which of course requires that theexhaust fan or fans be shut off. A very important portion of the fluecleaning apparatus is the flue closing and liquid collecting butterfly"valve which is installed near the bottom of the section of flue linewith which the cleaning apparatus is operatively associated. Thebutterfly" valve is constructed so as to be gravity urged toward theclosed position and automatically swingablc to the open position uponthe actuation of the associated exhaust fan or fans. The butterfly"valve is automatically swung from the closed position to the openposition in response to air being forced through the associated flue.

The main object of this invention is to provide a flue cleaningapparatus which will be capable of thoroughly cleaning the internalsurfaces of a flue line operatively associated with a range hood or anyother areas from which dirt or grease laden vapors are to be exhausted.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a flue cleaning apparatus which will becapable of sequentially spraying cleaning liquids and flushing orrinsing liquids on the internal surfaces of an associated flue line.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the precedingobjects is to provide a flue cleaning apparatus which will be operativeto entrap, collect and duct away clean ing and rinsing liquids whichtend to flow downwardly along the internal surfaces of an associatedflue line.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a flue cleaningapparatus including control means for fully automatic operation of thecleaning apparatus and which may be set to automatically clean theassociated flue during periods of nonuse of the flue.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a flue cleaning apparatus in accordance with the precedingobject and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, beof simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device thatwill be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-freein operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. ii is an elevational view of a conventional form of cooking rangehaving a range hood and flue line operatively associated therewith andwith the flue cleaning apparatus of the instant invention disposed inoperative association with the flue;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plane indicated by section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by section line 3-3 of H6. 4; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the planeindicated by section line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral generallydesignates a conventional form ofcommercial cooking range including anoverhead hood assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral12. The hood assembly l2 includes an upper central outlet 14 openinginto the lower end of an upstanding flue line referred to in general bythe reference numeral 18.

The range 10 is disposed within a room 20 which may be considered akitchen and the flue cleaning apparatus of the instant invention isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 22. The apparatus 22includes a flue line mounted portion referred to in general by thereference numeral 24 and a control and supply portion referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 26.

The room or kitchen 20 is defined at least in part by a wall 28 and thecontrol and supply portion 26 is disposed on the side wall 2% remotefrom the range 10. Also, it may be seen from FIG. 1 of the drawings thatthe control and supply portion 26 includes a large floor mountedreservoir or tank referred to in general by the reference numeral 30including a float assembly referred to in general by the referencenumeral 32 which is operative to indicate the level 34 of liquid withinthe tank 30.

A fresh waterline 36 is provided and includes a branch 38 which isvalved as at 40 and opens into the interior of the tank 30 through afloat controlled valve assembly 42 for maintaining the level 34 asillustrated in H6. ll of the drawings whenever the valve 40 is opened.

A motorized pump assembly referred to in general by the referencenumeral 44 is mounted on the top of the tank 30 and includes an inletline 46 whose inlet end extends downwardly through a removable cover 48for the tank 30 and terminates as at 50 adjacent the bottom of the tank30. The inlet line 46 has a solenoid actuated valve assembly 50 disposedtherein and a second solenoid actuated valve assembly referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 52 is also provided and disposed in theinlet line 46 downstream from the valve assembly 50. The valve assembly52 is similar to the valve assembly 50 except that a second branch 54 ofthe waterline 36 which is valved as at 56 opens into the valve assembly52.

- Thus, the valve assembly 50 is operative to control the flow of liquidfrom within the tank 30 to the motorized pump 44 and the valve assembly52 is operative to control the flow of water from the waterline 36 tothe motorized pump 44. Of course, when the valve assembly 50 is openedand the valve assembly 52 is closed, liquid from within the tank 30 ispassed through both the valve assembly 50 and the valve assembly 52 tothe motorized pump 44.

The control and supply portion 26 of the flue cleaning apparatus 22further includes any suitable type of timer mechanism 58 for controllingoperation of the valve assembly 50, the valve assembly 52 and the motor60 of the motorized pump assembly 44. The timer 58 is electricallyconnected to any suitable source (not shown) by means of conductors 62and the timer 58 is electrically connected to the valve assembly 50 bymeans of conductors 64, to the valve assembly 52 by means of conductors66 and to the electric motor 60 by means of electrical conductors 68.

The flue mounted portion 24 of the flue cleaning apparatus includesupper and lower support spider assemblies referred to in general by thereference numerals 70 and 72 including expandible mounting rings 74 and76, respectively, secured in upper and lower portions of the flue line18. The upper end of the flue line 118 projects through a roof structurereferred to in general by the reference numeral 78 and includes ahorizontally directed terminal end portion 80 opening into the inlet ofa blower assembly 31.

An upstanding tubular manifold line 82 is journaled from their supportspider assemblies 70 and 72 and is capped at its lower end as at 84. Themanifold line 82 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced nozzles86 and the upper end of the manifold line 82 has a bevel gear 88 mountedthereon and is coupled to the outlet end portion of a supply line 90 bymeans of any suitable rotatable coupling 92. The inlet end of the supplyline 90 is connected to the outlet of the motorized pump 44 and a gearhead drive motor referred to in general by the reference numeral 92 ismounted on a support 94 carried by the roof structure 78 and includesajournaled output shaft 96 having a bevel gear 98 mounted on its outerend and meshed with the bevel gear 88. The shaft 96 is journaledexteriorly of the gear head motor 92 by a bearing assembly referred toin general by the reference numeral 100 supported from the support 94and a bearing assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral102 supported from the support spider assembly 70.

The flue mounted portion 24 of the flue cleaning apparatus 22 alsoincludes a flue section 106 disposed in the flue line 18 and which has aslightly inclined annular flange 108 mounted therein including anannular seal member 110 mounted on its upper surface. A butterfly valveassembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 112 including adiametric center support portion 114 supported from diametricallyopposite portions of the flange 108 and a pair of opposite sidesemicircular wing members 116 and 118 pivotally supported from thediametric member 114 by hinge assemblies 120 is provided and supportedwithin the section 106 from the annu lar flange 108.

In FIG. 3 of the drawings, the full open positions of the wing members116 and 118 are illustrated in phantom lines and thus it may be seenthat the wing members 116 and 118 are free to swing toward their closedpositions illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings bygravity. However, operation of the blower assembly 81 will causesufficient air to be drawn upwardly into the lower end of the flue line106 to swing the wing members 116 and 118 from the closed positionthereof illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 3 of the drawings to thephantom line position thereof whenever the blower assembly is actuated.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 4 of thedrawings, it may be seen that a tubular fitting 124 opens through thesidewall of the section 106 adjacent the lowest peripheral portion ofthe abutment flange 108 with the tubular fitting 104 horizontallyregistered with the upper surface of the abutment flange 108. Thus, anyliquids falling downwardly through the flue line 18 when the wingmembers 116 and 118 are closed results in such liquids draining towardthe tubular fitting 124 and through the latter into the inlet end of thedrain line 126 which is operatively coupled to the tubular fitting 124.The outlet end of the drain line 126 opens downwardly through the floor128 through a foot valve 130.

Assuming that the timer 58 is set to automatically actuate the fluecleaning apparatus 22 during periods when the range is not in use, thewing members 116 and 118 of the butterfly valve assembly 112 will be inthe closed positions illustrated in solid lines in H0. 3 of thedrawings. As the flue cleaning apparatus 22 is actuated, the motor 60drives the motorized pump 44 which is supplied with cleaning liquid fromthe interior of the tank 30 through the inlet line 46 and the valveassemblies 50 and 52. The pump cleaning fluid is then forced through thesupply line 90 and down into the top of the manifold line 82 andoutwardly through the nozzles 86. Of course, the timer 58, by this time,has automatically actuated the gear head motor 92 so that the manifoldline 82 is rotated thereby enabling nozzles 86 to spray cleaning fluidonto all of the internal surfaces of the adjacent portions of the flueline 18. After the cleaning fluid has been sprayed on the internalsurfaces of the flue line 18 for a predetermined time controlled by thetimer 58, the valve assembly 50 is deactuated and the valve assembly 52is actuated so as to open the branch 54 to the inlet line 46 andtherebyenable fresh water to be pumped through the supply line 90 andinto the manifold line 82 whereupon the fresh water will be sprayed fromthe nozzles 86 onto the internal surfaces of the flue line 18 so as toflush the latter. As the cleaning liquid and water sprayed from thenozzles 86 falls downwardly along the internal surfaces of the flue line18, they are caught by the closed butterfly valve assembly 112 anddrained to the low side of the annular flange 108 and outwardly ofthetubular fitting 124.

As soon as the flue cleaning apparatus 22 has been actuated a sufficienttime to flush all traces of the cleaning liquid from the internalsurfaces ofthe flue line 18, the timer 58 will automatically terminateoperation of the motor 60, the gear head motor 92, and close the valveassembly 52. In this manner, the internal surfaces of the flue line 118will be thoroughly cleansed and the flue line 18 will be ready foroperation whenever the range 10 is to be next used, Of course, theblower assembly 81 may be readily operatively connected to the timer 58,if desired.

Although the gear head motor 92 has been provided to provide a meanswhereby the manifold line 82 may be rotated during operation of the fluecleaning apparatus 22, it is proposed that the gear head motor 92 couldbe eliminated merely by inclining the nozzles 86 so that they opengenerally tangentially of the manifold line 82. By this construction,the jet thrust of the nozzles 86 could be utilized to provide motiveforce for turning the manifold line 82 in lieu of the gear head motor92.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to falling within the scope ofthe invention.

We claim:

1. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue line section, means insaid section operative to spray cleaning liquid on the internal surfacesof said section about substantially the entire inner periphery of atleast one upper zone of said upstanding section, means in a lower zoneof said section operative to collect and drain away liquid flowingdownwardly along the inner surfaces of said lower zone throughoutsubstantially the entire inner periphery of said lower zone, thelast-mentioned means comprising gas barrier means mounted in said lowerzone shiftable between an inoperative position allowing the passage offlue gases there past and an operative position defining a transversebarrier in said lower zone to the upward passage of flue gases and thedownward passage of liquids therepast, a drain opening formed throughone wall portion of the lower zone of said flue section, said transversebarrier, when in the operative position, also including means operativeto collect any liquids flowing downwardly along the adjacent innersurface portions of said section and to divert the collected liquids tosaid drain opening for discharge therethrough.

2. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue line section, means insaid section operative to spray cleaning liquid on the internal surfacesof said section, means in a lower portion of said section operative tocollect and drain away liquid flowing downwardly along said innersurfaces toward the second mentioned means, said means in said lowerportion comprising flap valve means shiftable between open and closedposition closing the lower end of said upstanding section and gravityurged toward said closed position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said flap valve means includes anannular flange disposed in said lower portion inclined at least slightlyrelative to a horizontal plane so as to have one peripheral portionlower than all other peripheral portions of said flange, a pair ofsemicircular wing members pivotally supported along their base marginaledge portions for oscillation about an axes extending generallydiametrically of said annular flange and including generallysemicircular edge portions which overlie said flange when said wingmembers are generally horizontally disposed, said wing members beingswingable from substantially horizontally disposed positions towardupstanding but at least slightly upwardly divergent open position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said flap valve means includesseal means disposed between the semicircular marginal edge portions ofsaid wing members and said annular flange.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said flap valve means includes anannular flange disposed in said lower portion inclined at least slightlyrelative to a horizontal plane so as to have one peripheral portionlower than all other peripheral portions of said flange, a pair ofsemicircular wing members pivotally supported along their base marginaledge portions for oscillation about an axes extending generallydiametrically of said annular flange and including generallysemicircular edge portions which overlie said flange when said wingmembers are generally horizontally disposed, said wing members beingswingable from substantially horizontally disposed positions towardupstanding but at least slightly upwardly divergent open position, and atubular drain fitting opening through said lower portion of said flueline in general horizontal registry with and adjacent the lower portionof said annular flange.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said upstanding tubular flue linesection includes a blower assembly for pumping air through said flowline section, said blower assembly being of sufficient power to causesaid wing members to automatically swing from the closed positionsthereof to the open positions thereof upon operation of said blowermeans.

7. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue line section, means insaid section operative to spray cleaning liquid on the internal surfacesof said section, means in a lower portion of said section operative tocollect and drain away liquid flowing downwardly along said innersurfaces toward the second mentioned means, said means operative tospray cleaning liquid on the internal surfaces of said sectioncomprising an upstanding tubular manifold line journaled for rotation insaid flue line section whereby the entire inner surfaces of said tubularmember may be cleaned, means supplying the interior of said manifoldline with cleaning liquid under pressure, said manifold line includingoutlet nozzles communicating with the interior of said manifold andopening outwardly therefrom, said nozzles being spaced longitudinally ofsaid manifold line and positioned therealong for spraying at least theadjacent inner surface portion of said flue line.

8. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue line section, means insaid section operative to spray cleaning liquid on the internal surfacesof said section, means in a lower portion of said section operative tocollect and drain away liquid flowing downwardly along said innersurfaces toward the second mentioned means, said means operative tospray cleaning liquid on the internal surfaces of said sectioncomprising an upstanding tubular manifold line journaled in said flueline section, means supplying the interior of said manifold line withcleaning liquid under pressure, said manifold line including outletnozzles communicated with the interior of said manifold and openingoutwardly therefrom, said nozzles being spaced longitudinally of saidmanifold line and positioned therealong for spraying at least theadjacent inner surface portion of said flue line, means drivinglyconnected to said manifold line for rotating the latter within said flueline section.

9. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue line section, means insaid section operative to spray cleaning liquid on the internal surfacesof said section, means in a lower portion of said section operative tocollect and drain away liquid flowing downwardly along said innersurfaces toward the second mentioned means, the first mentioned meansincluding means operative to spray a rinsing liquid on said surfacessubsequent to said cleaning liquid being sprayed on said surfaces, saidfirst mentioned means including timed control means operative toautomatically initiate operation of said means to spray cleaning liquidon the internal surfaces of said section, thereafter terminate operationof the last mentioned means for spraying cleaning liquid on the internalsurfaces of said section and initiate operation of the last mentionedmeans to spray rinsing liquid on the internal surfaces of said sectionsubsequent to termination of operation of the last mentioned means tospray rinsing liquid on the internal surfaces ofsaid flue line section.

1. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue line section, means insaid section operative to spray cleaning liquid on the internal surfacesof said section about substantially the entire inner periphery of atleast one upper zone of said upstanding section, means in a lower zoneof said section operative to collect and drain away liquid flowingdownwardly along the inner surfaces of said lower zone throughoutsubstantially the entire inner periphery of said lower zone, thelast-mentioned means comprising gas barrier means mounted in said lowerzone shiftable between an inoperative position allowing the passage offlue gases there past and an operative position defining a transversebarrier in said lower zone to the upward passage of flue gases and thedownward passage of liquids therepast, a drain opening formed throughone wall portion of the lower zone of said flue section, said transversebarrier, when in the operative position, also including means operativeto collect any liquids flowing downwardly along the adjacent innersurface portions of said section and to divert the collected liquids tosaid drain opening for discharge therethrough.
 2. In combination, anupstanding tubular flue line section, means in said section operative tospray cleaning liquid on the internal surfaces of said section, means ina lower portion of said section operative to collect and drain awayliquid flowing downwardly along said inner surfaces toward the secondmentioned means, said means in said lower portion comprising flap valvemeans shiftable between open and closed position closing the lower endof said upstanding section and gravity urged toward said closedposition.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said flap valve meansincludes an annular flange disposed in said lower portion inclined atleast slightly relative to a horizontal plane so as to have oneperipheral portion lower than all other peripheral portions of saidflange, a pair of semicircular wing members pivotally supported alongtheir base marginal edge portions for oscillation about an axesextending generally diametrically of said annular flange and includinggenerally semicircular edge portions which overlie said flange when saidwing members are generally horizontally disposed, said wing membersbeing swingable from substantially horizontally disposed positionstoward upstanding but at least slightly upwardly divergent openposition.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said flap valve meansincludes seal means disposed between the semicircular marginal edgeportions of said wing members and said annular flange.
 5. Thecombination of claim 2 wherein said flap valve means includes an annularflange disposed in said lower portion inclined at least slightlyrelative to a horizontal plane so as to have one peripheral portionlower than all other peripheral portions of said flange, a pair ofsemicircular wing members pivotally supported along their base marginaledge portions for oscillation about an axes extending generallydiametrically of said annular flange and including generallysemicircular edge portions which overlie said flange when said wingmembers are generally horizontally disposed, said wing members beingswingable from substantially horizontally disposed positions towardupstanding but at least slightly upwardly divergent open position, and atubular drain fitting opening through said lower portion of said flueline in general horizontal registry with and adjacent the lower portionof said annular flange.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein saidupstanding tubular flue line section includes a blower assembly forpumping air through said flow line section, said blower assembly beingof sufficient power to cause said wing members to automatically swingfrom the closed positions thereof to the open positions thereof uponoperation of said blower means.
 7. In combination, an upstanding tubularflue line section, means in said section operative to spray cleaningliquid on the internal surfaces of said section, means in a lowerportion of said section operative to collect and drain away liquidflowing downwardly along said inner surfaces toward the second mentionedmeans, said means operative to spray cleaning liquid on the internalsurfaces of said section comprising an upstanding tubular manifold linejournaled for rotation in said flue line section whereby the entireinner surfaces of said tubular member may be cleaned, means supplyingthe interior of said manifold line with cleaning liquid under pressure,said manifold line including outlet nozzles communicating with theinterior of said manifold and opening outwardly therefrom, said nozzlesbeing spaced longitudinally of said manifold line and positionedtherealong for spraying at least the adjacent inner surface portion ofsaid flue line.
 8. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue linesection, means in said section operative to spray cleaning liquid on theinternal surfaces of said section, means in a lower portion of saidsection operative to collect and drain away liquid flowing downwardlyalong said inner surfaces toward the second mentioned means, said meansoperative to spray cleaning liquid on the internal surfaces of saidsection comprising an upstanding tubular manifold line journaled in saidflue line section, means supplying the interior of said manifold linewith cleaning liquid under pressure, said manifold line including outletnozzles communicated with the interior of said manifold and openingoutwardly therefrom, said nozzles being spaced longitudinally of saidmanifold line and positioned therealong for spraying at least theadjacent inner surface portion of said flue line, means drivinglyconnected to said manifold line for rotating the latter within said flueline section.
 9. In combination, an upstanding tubular flue linesection, means in said section operative to spray cleaning liquid on theinternal surfaces of said section, means in a lower portion of saidsection operative to collect and drain away liquid flowing downwardlyalong said inner surfaces toward the second mentioned means, the firstmentioned means including means operative to spray a rinsing liquid onsaid surfaces subsequent to said cleaning liquid being sprayed on saidsurfaces, said first mentioned means including timed control meansoperative to automatically initiate operation of said means to spraycleaning liquid on the internal surfaces of said section, thereafterterminate operation of the last mentioned means for spraying cleaningliquid on the internal surfaces of said section and initiate operationof the last mentioned means to spray rinsing liquid on the internalsurfaces of said section subsequent to termination of operation of thelast mentioned means to spray rinsing liquid on the internal surfaces ofsaid flue line section.